Eriko Katagari is about as exciting a discovery as I've made in a filmmaker in recent memory. A werewolf film that moves to totally unfamiliar rhythms. Plays as an allegory for neurodivergence in ways that are so lovely and not at all upsetting. Remarkable stuff. Enveloped from start to finish. Serena Motola is a revelation.
Fantasia 2026 #9: Underground (World Premiere)Never really have been a massive fan of werewolves, but found this one quite strong on the whole. Maybe that's also because I find the slow transformations more entrancing than the concept of the monsters themselves, and what stimulates these senses. It's rather stunning, but it also taps into a specific facet of femininity that we often shield ourselves from, especially when the world around her is constantly alienating her. And quickly enough you can sense that getting under your skin, especially as we start to sense Miki's mind being warped by what the world makes of her.Thus it becomes the perfect moment for her to unleash these desires in some form. And then the moment she fully embraces the identity of the monster pays off to great effect here. Given that this is writer-director Eriko Katagiri's first feature as a director, I can't wait to see more.